Page 31 of Never Too Late to Date

Angeliki waved away the compliment and directed them to the sofas.

‘Nicky mou, can you light a fire, please, while I prepare the food.’

‘Vevaíos, my darling. Of course.’

Angeliki’s boyfriend reminded Vicky of a big cuddly puppy as he bounced over to the fire. He’d probably be a black Lab, the perfect foil for her friend’s passionate nature. Turning to Suzie, she decided her friend would need something glamorous and independent, like an Afghan Hound or a Saluki, slinking around the place, showing little interest in other dogs, knowing it was a superior breed.

What sort of dog would she choose as a partner now? She’d had a snappy little Yorkshire Terrier for so long, it was hard to imagine. Vicky smiled at the image of Ian’s head transplanted onto a fierce short-legged battler. Not that she wanted another man, or even another dog, come to that, after Scout. She’d never find another Scout.

Loyal, affectionate, by her side whenever she really needed him, but never desperate for attention like some dogs, he’d been the perfect blend. The tears were starting to form again. Just how long was the grief going to last? She knew there were people who’d think, ‘He was only a dog, get over it,’ and one recently widowed neighbour, distraught at losing her husband of fifty years, had said as much, which had brought on an attack of guilt for being so upset.

But Scout had been so much more than ‘just a dog’. He’d seen her through the tough times, from the worst phase of her life with Ian and the much-longed-for divorce, to the sale of the family home, and Tasha leaving for New Zealand for goodness knows how long, possibly forever.

Her morose thoughts were obviously writ large on her face, as Suzie was giving her a strange look. She needed to shut this down and focus. It was supposed to be a celebration, not a wake.

After guiding them to the largest, squashiest sofa, Nick bent down to light the fire, presenting his broad shoulders in his navy cashmere sweater before he leapt up again.

‘Can I get you both a drink? This won’t take long to catch.’

Vicky spoke up. ‘Wine would be great. A rosé if you have it.’

‘Sure. Suzie?’

‘Yes, me too, please.’

Nick handed over the drinks moments later, perfectly chilled.

Suzie shouted over to him as he artfully arranged the logs on top of the kindling he’d lit a couple of minutes ago.

‘If you’re ever at a loose end, Nick, we’re sometimes short staffed in the bar.’

His dark head looked up from the now blazing fire.

‘I’ll give that some serious thought.’

As soon as they’d polished off their glasses of wine, Angeliki called over from the open-plan kitchen-diner with its big wooden table laid for four.

‘Hey. Don’t get too comfortable. It won’t be long until we eat.’

Nick was busy putting yet more wood on the fire. He was obviously a real fire type of guy. Vicky would bet he’d slay at barbecuing too. Angeliki had explained that her man ran some sort of engineering company on the island. Feeding the fire definitely seemed to be an exact science.

Vicky tore her eyes away from the flames and whispered to Suzie, ‘Eating, at this time of night?’

She’d got used to the Greek habit of eating dinner after nine, but it was nearly half past midnight.

‘Oh yes, it’s tradition, to symbolise breaking the Lenten fast after forty days.’

‘What are we eating exactly?’

Her question was cut short by Angeliki’s shout of ‘ready’, although she was slightly perturbed by Suzie’s evil smile.

As they approached the table, Vicky could see some sort of bread, eggs painted red, and a tureen of strange-looking soup.

Angeliki stood behind her offerings.

‘We’ll eat the eggs after we’ve played a game with them. The plaited bread is called tsouréki, and it’s sweet, rather than savoury.’

She turned her focus to the tureen.